Blackhead Loop

Blackhead Loop

I did a sunset hike of Blackhead because the only way to get a parking spot is to go early or late. (Plus, I like having the mountain to myself.) And, unlike my excursion to Palenville Overlook, this hike was bug free. There were occasional muddy spots, but you could easily bypass them. 

I went up the Escarpment trail, which I hadn't done in a long time. I forgot that it can be a pretty steep ascent on the last mile to the top. When I reached the summit, the sunlight was perfect. It was that warm yellow glow that makes any setting look beautiful -- even the city. As I walked down the Blackhead Trail, through the canopy of trees I saw the literal light at the end of the tunnel that indicated a small clearing. 

I was really excited to walk through it because I knew I was going to see an amazing view. It got me thinking about how being on the precipice of things  is often more intense than the arrival of the event itself. 

The positive anticipation is thrilling, but the negative anticipation is often far worse than the experience itself. I think it's hard finding that balance between preparing yourself for something and torturing yourself. Thoughts are incredibly powerful and learning to manage them is something I've been working on for a few years now. But, every now and then, I realize I am reacting differently than I used to and it reinvigorates my motivation. 

Fortunately, as much as there is to worry about, there are also a lot of impending events to be excited about -- like fall foliage hiking and the start of ski season.